"This will was made four years ago when the late Mr. Littleton was the deceased gentleman"s attorney. It was opened three months ago in order to add a trifling codicil, which was entrusted to my care. I will now read the will."
There is no such c.u.mbrous and verbose doc.u.ment in the world as the will of a wealthy man. It was read by Mr. Probus in a harsh voice without stops in a sing-song, monotonous delivery, which composed the senses and made one feel as if all the words in the Dictionary were being read aloud.
At last he finished.
"Perhaps," I said, "someone will tell me in plain English what it means?"
"Plain English, Sir? Let me tell you," Mr. Probus replied, "that there is no plainer English in the world than that employed by lawyers."
I turned to my uncle. "Will you, Sir, have the goodness to explain to me?"
"I cannot recite the whole. As for the main points--Mr. Probus will correct me if I am wrong--my lamented brother leaves bequests to found an almshouse for eight poor men and eight poor widows, to bear his name; he also founds at his Parish Church an annual Lecture, to bear his name: he establishes a New Year"s dole, to bear his name, of coals and bread, for twenty widows of the Parish. He has founded a school, for twelve poor boys, to bear his name. He has ordered his executors to effect the release of thirty poor prisoners for debt, in his name. Is there more, Mr. Probus?"
"He also founds a scholarship for a poor and deserving lad, to a.s.sist him at Cambridge. The same scholarship to bear his name and to be in the gift of his Company."
"What does he say about me?"
"I am coming to that," Mr. Probus replied. "He devises many bequests to his nephews and nieces, his cousins and his personal friends, with mourning rings to all: there are, I believe, two hundred thus honoured: two hundred--I think, Mr. Paul, that it is a long time since the City lost one so rich and so richly provided with friends."
"But what does he say about me?" I insisted.
"Patience. He then devises the whole of his remaining estate: all his houses, investments, shares, stocks: all his furniture and plate: to his nephew Matthew."
"I expected it. And nothing said about me at all."
"It is estimated that the remainder, after deducting the monies already disposed of, will not amount to more than 100,000, because there is a reservation----"
"Oh!"
"It is provided that the sum of 100,000 be set aside: that it be placed in the hands of trustees whom he names--the Master of his Company and the Clerk of the Company. This money is to acc.u.mulate at compound interest until one of two events shall happen--either the death of his son, in which case Mr. Matthew will have it all: or the death of Mr.
Matthew, in which case the son is to have it all. In other words, this vast sum of money with acc.u.mulations will go to the survivor of the two."
I received this intelligence in silence. At first I could not understand what it meant.
"I think, Sir," Mr. Probus addressed the Alderman, "we have now set forth the terms of this most important doc.u.ment in plain language. We ought perhaps to warn Mr. William against building any hopes upon the very slender chance of succeeding to this money. We have here"--he indicated Matthew--"health, strength, an abstemious life: on the other hand we have"--he indicated me--"what we see."
I laughed. At all events I was a more healthy subject, to look at, than my cousin, who this morning looked yellow instead of pale.
"The span of life," the attorney went on, "accorded to my justly esteemed client, will probably be that usually a.s.signed to those who honour their parents--say eighty, or even ninety. You, sir, will probably be cut off at forty. I believe that it is the common lot in your cla.s.s. Above all things, do not build upon the chances of this reversion."
Suddenly the words I had heard came back to me. What were they? "We will make him sell his reversion." "Sell his reversion." Then the reversion must not be sold.
Mr. Probus went on too long. You may destroy the effect of your words by too much repet.i.tion.
"A shadowy chance," he said, "a shadowy chance."
"I don"t know. Why should not my cousin die before me? Besides, it means that my father in cutting me off would leave a door for rest.i.tution."
"Only an imaginary door, sir--not a real door."
"A very real door. I shall live as long as I can. My cousin will do as he pleases. Mr. Probus, the "shadowy chance," as you call it, is a chance that is worth a large sum of money if I would sell my reversion."
Mr. Probus started and looked suspicious. "But I shall not sell it. I shall wait. Matthew might die to-morrow--to-day, even--"
"Fie, Sir--oh, fie!--to desire the death of your cousin! This indeed betokens a bad heart--a bad heart. How dreadful is the pa.s.sion of envy!
How soul-destroying is the thirst for gold!"
I rose. I knew the worst.
"Do not," Mr. Probus went on, "give, I entreat you, one thought to the thing. Before your cousin"s life lies stretched what I may call a charming landskip with daisies in the gra.s.s, and--and--the pretty warblers of the grove. It is a life, I see very plainly, full of goodness, which is Heavenly Wealth, stored up for future use; and of success on Change, which is worldly wealth. Happy is the City which owns the possessor of both!"
The moralist ceased and began to tie up his papers. When his strident voice dropped, the air became musical again, so to speak. However, the harsh voice suited the sham piety.
"Cousin Matthew," I rose, since there was nothing to keep me longer.
"Could I remember, in your seven-and-twenty years of life, one single generous act or one single worthy sentiment, then I could believe this fustian about the length of days and the Heavenly Wealth. Live as long as you can. I desire never to see you again, and never to hear from you again. Go your own way, and leave me to go mine."
The whole company rose: they parted right and left to let me pa.s.s: as the saying is, they gave me the cold shoulder with a wonderful unanimity. There was a common consent among them that the man who had become a fiddler had disgraced the family. As for Matthew, he made no reply even with looks. He did not, however, present the appearance of joy at this great accession to wealth. Something was on his mind that troubled him.
My uncle the Alderman spoke for the family.
"Nephew," he said, "believe me, it is with great sorrow that we see thee thus cast out: yet we cannot but believe the acts of my brother to be righteous. I rejoice not that my son has taken thine inheritance. I lament that thou hast justly been deprived. The will cuts thee off from the family." He looked round. A murmur of approval greeted him. A disinherited son who is also a fiddler by profession cannot be said to belong to a respectable City family. "We wish thee well--in thy lower sphere--among thy humble companions. Farewell." I pa.s.sed through them all with as much dignity as I could a.s.sume. "Alas!" I heard him saying as I stepped out. "Alas! that cousins should so differ from each other in grain--in grain!"
[Ill.u.s.tration: "I Pa.s.sED THROUGH THEM ALL."]
His daughters, my dear cousins, turned up their noses, coughed and flattened themselves against the wall so that I should not touch so much as a hoop--and I saw these affectionate creatures no more, until--many things had happened.
CHAPTER VIII
THE TEMPTATION
One morning, about six weeks after the funeral, I was sitting at the harpsichord, picking out an anthem of my own composition. The theme was one of thanksgiving and praise, and my heart was lifted to the level of the words. All around was peace and tranquillity: on the river bank outside Alice walked up and down carrying our child, now nearly a year and a half old: the boy crowed and laughed: the mother would have been singing, but she would not disturb me at work. Can mortal man desire greater happiness than to have the work of his own choice; the wife who is to him the only woman in the world: a strong and lovely child: and a sufficiency earned by his own work? As for my chance of ever getting that huge fortune by my cousin"s death, I can safely aver that I never so much as thought of it. We never spoke of it: we put it out of our minds altogether.
I heard steps outside: steps which disturbed me: I turned my head. It was Mr. Probus the attorney. He stood hat in hand before Alice.
"Mr. William"s wife I believe," he was saying. "And his child? A lovely boy indeed, Madam. I bring you news--nothing less in short than a fortune--a fortune--for this lovely boy."
"Indeed, Sir? Are you a friend of my husband?"
"A better friend, I warrant, Madam, than many who call him friend."
"He is within, Sir. Will you honour our poor cottage?" He stood in the open door.
"Mr. Will," he said, "I have your permission to enter?"
At sight of him the whole of the anthem vanished: harmony, melody, solo, chorus. It was as if someone was singing false: as if all were singing false. I put down my pen. "Sir," I said, "I know not if there is any business of mine which can concern you."